It’s hard to nail down just one element of the Pleasant Valley High football team’s successful state championship year.

Whether it be the skill position players, the offensive line, the defense or even special teams, the Vikings seemingly found success all over the field, which is why PV earned six selections for the All-Northern Section football teams.

The first and second teams are voted on by north state media including the Chico Enterprise-Record, the Redding Record Searchlight, Shasta County Sports, the Marysville Appeal-Democrat and MaxPreps along with input from various coaches.

Four Vikings highlight the first team with Tanner Hughes earning the nod at quarterback, Caleb Cooley at wide receiver, Michael Stahel at guard and Caden Crumm at kicker. Punter Dante Jackson was named to the second team and Akia Ramirez earned a second team selection at defensive back.

“It’s awesome. Any time you can get guys on an all-section team, I think it’s a huge accomplishment for each kid,” PV head coach Mark Cooley said. “As a group, it’s a representation for what we accomplished this year.”

Hughes was ranked sixth in the section for passing after throwing for 1,732 yards for 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Caleb Cooley, arguably Hughes’ favorite target on the year, garnered his second straight all-section honor. He was named to the second team last season.

Caleb Cooley caught 14 touchdowns on 960 receiving yards for third best in the section.

Crumm, another second-year, all-section selection, was perfect on field goals hitting 8-of-8 on the season. The senior kicker hit a 30-yard field goal, his longest of the season, in a 31-13 win over Shasta.

Jackson, a junior, shined as the Vikings’ punter. Jackson was able to pin opponents deep in their own territory which benefited the Vikings defense all year.

“His contribution was just incredible,” Mark Cooley said. “There’s certain games that he definitely shined in as far as saving us with field position and giving our defense an opportunity to breathe a little bit.”

Stahel, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound lineman, was a force on both the offensive and defensive line.

“The o-line, those guys in the trenches never get any love, but those are the guys that make the team work,” Mark Cooley said. “I would say he was our most consistent factor on our offensive line. He always wanted to get better and be better, but very few mistakes that kid made – great technique.”

Chico High also ties PV with six selections. The Panthers had two players named to the first team and four on the second team.

Jose Martinez earned his second all-section honor at defensive tackle and safety Anthony Thomas joined him on the first team.

Martinez, a third-year varsity player, has been a force on the defensive line for the Panthers.

“I think when you have a kid like that it makes for a special player. He’s definitely one of our best football players,” Chico head coach Jason Alvistur said. “He has a great skill set and a great motor.”

Thomas commanded the defense for the Panthers as well, often directing schemes and being a leader on the field.

“He emerged as the quarterback of the defense,” Alvistur said. “He really bought in to what our defensive coaching staff was doing. By the end of the year he could really direct traffic as a coach on the field.”

On the second team, CeeJay Rothenberger and Winston Capucion were both named to the offensive line, Ty Thomas was named the second team quarterback and Kobe Hood was selected at linebacker.

The Panthers lost five offensive linemen to graduation at the start of the year which came with concerns. However, Rothenberger and Capucion both rose to the occasion and helped solidify the offensive line this year.

“The coaches went into this season like ‘Oh my gosh, how do we replace five o-linemen?’” Alvistur recalled. “Winston and CeeJay were both two seniors who definitely stepped up and really anchored that line for us.”

Ty Thomas threw for 1,655 yards with 16 touchdowns and just one interception. He also added 440 rushing yards and ran for eight touchdowns.

“He’s definitely a kid who is a dual threat. He played a huge role in our run game as well as our passing game,” Alvistur said. “He’s like Anthony (Thomas) – another coach on the field.”

Paradise High was also recognized with four selections. For the first team, Trevor Curtis was named at center, Dominic Wiggins at running back and Jacob Weldon at cornerback. Trevor Rickson earned a second-team nod at linebacker.

Curtis, a two-way starter for Paradise, took on the offensive line this year.

“He was the anchor, the leader of the o-line, the captain of the huddle,” said Paradise head coach Rick Prinz.

Wiggins amassed 1,707 rushing yards and scored 19 touchdowns. He spent much of his junior year hindered by a hamstring injury but was able to break through for a stellar senior year.

“He was a secret weapon for us starting the year,” Prinz said. “He has great speed, great strength and just a really hard, tough runner.”

Weldon served a shutdown cornerback for the Bobcats this year. Prinz said most opponents wouldn’t even throw to his side.

Rickson, another two-year starter for Paradise, played multiple roles. He spent time at running back, middle linebacker and special teams.

“He never left the field. He had a motor and was always ready to go,” Prinz said.

The Gridley High football team had three selections, all for the first-team offense. Tight end Wyatt Dreesman, tackle George Becker and running back Jorge Moran garnered first team selections.

“It’s a feather in the cap for the whole program,” Gridley head coach Matt Kemmis said.

Becker, a two-year starter, recently signed a full-ride scholarship to play for Eastern Washington.

“He really committed himself to the weight room,” Kemmis said. “He was just a man possessed in terms of work ethic and commitment.”

Other area players to earn all-section honors were Durham’s Jace Buck as a second-team wide receiver, Nick Smith as a second-team defensive end and Orland’s Jacob Schermer as a second-team defensive back. Foothill quarterback Jayden Gordon was named the offensive MVP. West Valley’s Bailey Sulzer was selected as the defensive MVP while West Valley head coach Greg Grandell was named the Coach of the Year.